2014 Darkness: On Tap

I'm an idiot and didn't refresh to see the post 2 above mine. Oh well. Happy Halloween anyway.

 

Just wondering if any places around bloomington, slp, uptown area had darkness on tap. Meeting some buddies for happy hour and would like more darkness!

 

The Depot Tavern just tapped some.

 

Lions Pub in DT just tapped a keg of Darkness. From the taste it's not the BA. Still delicious.

 

From the looks of it - It should be easy for an establishment to determine whether it is BA or not...

 

Didn't ask the server but it tastes like the barrel aged version at lyndale tap House. 10oz for $7

 

Barrel aged keg $1 per ounce at old chicago apple valley. Fml.

 

Aside from Darkness Day, I have had it on tap three times: Moose on Monroe, Downtown Pizza Lucé, and Bulldog NE. Bulldog NE was quite obviously non-BA, and the other two were definitely BA.

 

Went to sunshine factory and can confirm it was NOT BA Darknesss. Its not hard people...

 

I swear, this has never happened before

 

So I just cracked a bottle of 2014 BA Darkness and it tasted like a shadow of what was on tap at Dday. Anyone else notice the same?

BA Darkness on tap at Dday (1PM keg) was damn good - very strong barrel flavor, strong booze heat, rye, and was noticeably less sweet than previous Darkness vintages.

Dakness tap at Luce (BA or not) didn't have much of any barrel notes, wasn't booze hot at all, carbonation seemed low too, and tasted much sweeter. -Tasted more like previous Darkness vintages?

2014 BA Darkness bottle I opened last night tasted identical to the Darkness at Luce.

IDK Thoughts?

 

Beer is the same your palate may not.

 

The darkness from the first keg at d day was awesome! Hoping the other kegs and bottles are as good

 

@Curt1, I had the exact same experience! That one on tap at Darkness kinda blew me away. Cracked a bottle and was down right disappointed. Sure lots of things play into this and I'll give the bottle another shot, but it was nowhere near what was on tap.

 

I wasn't really blown away or anything from the BA darkness I had on tap at lyndale tap house. It was much smoother than what I expected given Surly's in your face attitude in most of their beers. I thought there would be more "heat"
I'll be doing a tasting with many BA stouts over thanksgiving (couple Jackie O's stouts, KBS, Black Note, BCBBW, BCBS, BCBCS, Itaska Loonidragon) so we'll see how it stacks up.

 

Had it on tap at DD and a bunch of us shared a bottle last night. Granted it was after 7 Sucre variants, but the bottle version tasted good to me. Maybe we were too busy laughing at the Charlie Murphy skit while drinking it, but at least 4 of the people that split the bottle last night also had it on tap and nobody mentioned it was inferior to the DD draft version.

 

Well that is good @ryanfolty. I did chalk it up to my tastebuds being off when I opened the bottle. I hope that is, in fact, the case.

 

I'm drinking my first bottle right now and you can taste the barrels flavors without a doubt. Yesterday, I thought for sure I was drinking BA Darkness at the Sunshine Factory because it tasted way different than previous year's Darkness. Darkness is usually very hoppy when fresh and I didn't get that at all. It was also much sweeter. Maybe they did change the recipe up a bit this year?

 

Anyone know of a place south of the river still pouring it?

 

Was on and fantastic at Washington Square 3-hours ago. BA per palate and confirmed with bartender. Small keg per bartender also so not sure how long it will last.